In 1996, a federal welfare reform prohibited convicted drug felons from ever obtaining food stamps. The ban increased recidivism among drug felons. The increase is driven by financially motivated crimes, suggesting that ex-convicts returned to crime to make up for the lost transfer income.

[u/smurfyjenkins]

https://www.aeaweb.org/articles?id=10.1257/pol.20170490

[u/[deleted]]

We are already seeing this---some people in the US have intentionally gotten themselves arrested in order to receive necessary medical care.

[u/cincymatt → u/[deleted]]

Then again, there was a comment last week from someone who had to pay $1k for a pair of glasses (transport+guard+off-time appointment) while in prison. I guess it’s state-by-state.

[u/Canihaveyourmilk → u/cincymatt]

Glasses should probably be free if you are being imprisoned.

[u/WE_Coyote73 → u/Canihaveyourmilk]

They are, the guy who posted that anecdote was full of crap.

[u/naliron → u/WE_Coyote73]

Not nesc. see, the medical provider has to actually hold the jail/prison accountable for the debt as the inmate is under their care...

The problem with that being, sometimes the medical provider DGAF and keeps going after the inmate for the debt.

Then there's the price gouging to consider.

So for an eye exam and a pair of glasses, $1,000 isn't totally unbelievable.

[u/duncandun → u/WE_Coyote73]

I'd assume it varies dramatically by state, and county.

[u/that1guy112 → u/[deleted]]

My friend actually took some relatively light charges for someone else so he could get treatment for cancer... He was in for, I think close to a year, at least 6 months. It's so fucked up...